Mountain View
Suzy Jacobson Cherry
Ordinary Objects, Sacred Spaces
It seems sometimes that wherever people go to collectively honor their concept of the Divine, they just arrive at a place, do some things, feel something nice, and then go home. Hopefully, they try to bring the inspiration of that experience into the world. Often, though, they set aside the time spent seeking divine inspiration as separate from their experiences in the world. For many, the special connection, or “nice feeling” they get when coming together to honor the Divine is only accessible at the place they go during the time they are at that place.
Mesa Hydration Donation Campaign Needs More Water Donations
In spite of several large donations this summer, Mesa's Hydration Donation Campaign is unable to keep up with the need for bottles of water in the community. The campaign, which started on June 5, the has received 166,367 bottles of water. While this is a large number of water bottles, it falls short of the total received last year by nearly 46,000 bottles.
Opinion: Why I Think This Rock Diva is Wrong About Her Own Song!
When Pat Benatar announced she would no longer be singing one of her most popular songs at concerts, I was stunned. The operatically-trained rock singer who rose to stardom in the 1980s pulled Hit Me with Your Best Shot from her playlist. She made this decision out of respect for those who have been killed by gun violence here in the U.S.
Make Someone's Day Easier: Simple Random Acts of Kindness
Make someone else’s day a little easier at no cost to you. Running headlong into a busy day, I made a beeline for the kitchen as I texted my carpool that I was running a little late. I had just realized I hadn’t boiled eggs for breakfast. Sighing in resignation, I pulled open the refrigerator door. I was fairly certain there was some leftover rice in there. Sticking my face into the cool refrigerated air, I began to forage for the old rice. That’s when I noticed that someone had boiled some eggs and left them in the refrigerator with a note! I grabbed a couple of the eggs and glanced at the clock. Saved! Suddenly, the busy day ahead of me didn’t seem so chaotic. Just the simple act of boiling some eggs and putting them where they would be found at just the right time saved me time. Instead of being frustrated, I felt like I was going to have a great day!
Unlock the power of gratitude: the magic of saying "thank you"
It's the one phrase that can make your day better. Every day people do things for us that make our day better. Often, they are simply doing their jobs. Whether it’s the receptionist at the office we called, the attendant at the local gas station and convenience store, or the wait staff at our favorite breakfast place, the folks who provide our services deserve our positive feedback.
UFL 3 Championship Grand Prix Semifinals: see MMA legends Rampage Jackson and Frank Mir in Mesa
The United Fight League returns to Arizona for the Championship Grand Prix for the Semifinals close out. Join Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fans at Legacy Park in Mesa as some of Arizona’s rising prospects take on fighters from across the world. Doors open at 5:00 pm Mountain Standard Time. Fans can enjoy interactive experiences hosted by F3 Energy.
The Reopening of Sunset Point Rest Area
In September 2022, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) began a project to renovate the Sunset Point Rest Area. Work was undertaken to revamp the restrooms, ramadas, sidewalks, lighting, water, and septic systems. The renovations have now been completed and the site has reopened.
Book Review: Patricia Curren’s Gripping New Mystery Novel “Wrongful Death”
A peppery police detective, salty civilians, and red herrings make a great story. I discovered Arizona author Patricia Curren at the Mesa Local Childrens and Young Adult Authors Fair in June, where I purchased Wrongful Death. I'm so glad I did!
Continuing Improvements to Arizona Highways: overnight restrictions in Sedona and other roadwork
Overnight Highway Restrictions in Sedona start Tonight (July 9) Overnight lane restrictions are scheduled along State Route 179 in the Sedona area starting Sunday night, July 9, while crews apply lane stripes and other pavement markings to continue the highway improvement project which have been ongoing for the past several weeks.
Exploring the Intersection of Church, State, and Human Rights on Independence Day
Notice: the following article is an opinion piece by the author. I believe strongly in the separation of church and state. For me it is particularly imperative that the United States does not become a theocracy. That is, we do not and should not have a state religion. We have the constitutional right to follow the religion/spirituality of our choice or none at all.
Honoring Veterans on Independence Day: Companies Offer Special Discounts
Americans are once again preparing to celebrate Independence Day. July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence since 1776, but it was almost 100 years before Congress would pass H.R. 2224, establishing the Fourth of July as an unpaid federal holiday in 1870. The bill also acknowledged other holidays like New Year's Day and Christmas as legal holidays in every state. In1938 Congress established the Fourth of July as a paid federal holiday. At the same time Christmas, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Washington's Birthday, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving also became federal holidays. Since the late 19th century, the Fourth of July has been celebrated with leisure activities, family get-togethers, barbecues, and fireworks.
Making a Difference in the Heat: ways to help others during summer
Arizona summers are always hot, and monsoon season has arrived. According to AZCentral.com the National Weather Service has predicted that we are going to have below normal precipitation this year along with above normal temperatures. It looks like Arizonans will have a hot and dry summer. The heat sometimes makes it difficult for to go outside, yet there are people who live out in the heat on a regular basis.
Celebrate America's Independence Day in Downtown Mesa with Fireworks and Fun!
Enjoy food, fun, fantastic patriotic events, and fireworks and it’s all in downtown Mesa! The city of Mesa and AT&T Fiber will host “Arizona's coolest Independence Day event” on July 4 from 6 to 10 pm. The event takes place at 263 N. Center Street. Entry into the event and all activities are free!
Stay safe on the road this 4th of July Weekend: no major road work on state highways
According to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), other than a short 2-hour window when State Route 260 east of Payson will be fully closed, ADOT and its contractors do not plan any full highway closures from Friday morning, June 30, until Wednesday morning, July 5.
Celebrating Juneteenth: why all Americans should honor the Day of Emancipation
Not long ago, I wrote a story about San Tan poet Marlana-Patrice Pugh Hamer's inclusion in 1619 Speaks: An Anthology of African American Poets. Pugh Hamer was invited to present a poem about Juneteenth at the Queen Creek Juneteenth Celebration this weekend. In addition to the event in Queen Creek on Sunday, there are numerous celebrations around the Valley on Monday. You'll find a link at the end of this article.
Help save lives in Mesa: donate to the 17th Annual hydration donation campaign
The 2023 Point-in-Time (PIT), an annual street and shelter count to determine the number of people experiencing homelessness, occurred on January 23, 2023. The PIT count revealed that a total of 9,642 individuals were either living in shelters or on the streets in Maricopa County, with 4,908 living unsheltered. This is a 7% increase in people experiencing homelessness over 2022.
Mesa 4th of July Celebration Seeks Volunteers
An email from the City of Mesa reports that volunteers are needed for the 2023 Arizona Celebration of Freedom, which will be held on Tuesday, July 4 from 6 pm to 10 pm at 263 N. Center Street in downtown Mesa. Pre-event set up takes place on July 3 from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm.
Flag Day: celebrating the stars and stripes and the freedom of expression
That the flag of the United States shall be of thirteen stripes of alternate red and white, with a union of thirteen stars of white in a blue field, representing the new constellation. -- Adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.
Arizona drivers: get ready for pavement repairs on multiple highways
An email from the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) this week announced that the first of 23 pavement repair projects has started and more will begin soon. The first of these projects begins with ADOT completing $50.5 million in projects to start. The repairs are slated to fix stretches of pavement that was damaged during the record-setting winter.
Mesa Library's local author fair celebrates diverse writing talent
On Saturday, June 3, the Red Mountain Branch of the Mesa Public Library hosted this year’s Local Childrens and Young Adult (YA) Author Fair. Books at the June fair targeted children, tweens, teens, and families. This annual fair, which traditionally takes place at the Main library branch, provides space for authors to connect with new readers and with one another.
Suzy Jacobson Cherry
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M.Div., Educator, Writer, Artist. Writing about local music, events, businesses, spirituality, books, opinion, and living life in Mesa. Also write for Medium, Vocal.Media, and HubPages. Book author. Published in newspapers, magazines, broadsides, anthologies, and online journals. US Air Force Veteran.
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